Come Follow Me 52
CHRISTMAS
Come Follow Me Lesson 52
“We Have Waited for Him, and He Will Save Us” For unto Us a Child Is Born, by Simon Dewey
Introduction:
How has the Old Testament strengthened your faith in Jesus Christ?
The Old Testament people looked forward to the better world that Christ would bring. We too are looking forward to the return of the Messiah. Our faith is also centered in Jesus Christ and the hope, renewal, and deliverance that He alone can bring.
- Our faith and hope is in our Savior Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.
- Jesus was born to deliver all people.
Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
He came to deliver us—to bear our griefs, to carry our sorrows, to be bruised for our iniquities, so that with His stripes we can be healed.
Isaiah 53:4–5 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
- We celebrate the story of Jesus Christ’s birth today, because He was born to be the Savior of all the people who’ve ever lived, from Adam and Eve to the end of the world.
Personal Study: I rejoice in my Redeemer.
- Why do you feel joyful at Christmas?
The hope that our Savior brings to us all; families gather together; people give gifts to each other; we think of ways to serve and bless the lives of others; there is a spirit of anticipation and gift-giving.
Why did Old Testament prophets feel joy about Christmas?
Psalm 35:9
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
Isaiah 25:8–9
8He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.
9 ¶ And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Isaiah 44:21–24
21 ¶ Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
24 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isaiah 51:11
11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Zephaniah 3:14–20
4 ¶ Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15 The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.
Moses 5:5–11
5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.
6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.
9 And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.
10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
11 And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.
Personal Study: Symbols can help me remember Jesus Christ.
- How do the symbols we use in our Christmas traditions remind us of Jesus Christ?
Star-shaped decorations represent the bright star that shone the night of Jesus’s birth.
Matthew 2:2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Singing Christmas hymns remind us of the angels who sang at Jesus’s birth.
Luke 2:13–14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
What other symbols can you think of in your Christmas tradtions?
Gift-giving; service; green tree; ornaments, family gathering together.
So many symbols, passages, and accounts found in the scriptures testify of Jesus Christ.
- Jesus is the Lamb of God.
- Jesus is our Manna and the Bread of Life
Exodus 16:4, 12–21, 31
Deuteronomy 8:3
John 6:30–40 30
35 I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
- Jesus is the Living Water
Jeremiah 2:13
Ezekiel 47:1–12
John 4:7–14
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Jesus is our Healer—The Brass Serpent represented Him
Numbers 21:4–9 We can look to Jesus and live.
John 3:14–15 14 ¶ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- Jesus is the Rock of our Salvation and our Sure Foundation
1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
2 Samuel 22:2–3 2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
Psalm 118:22–23 22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
Isaiah 28:16 16 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
- Jesus is the Branch
Isaiah 11:1–2 1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Jeremiah 33:15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
Jesus is the Light of the World
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Isaiah 60:19 the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Micah 7:8
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
2 Nephi 11:4; Mosiah 3:14–15; Moses 6:63: all things bear record of me.
Types or Symbols of Christ Jesus Christ
Personal Study: “His name shall be called Wonderful.”
What other titles do you find in the following passages?
Psalms 23:1; 83:18; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 12:2; 63:16; Amos 4:13; Zechariah 14:16; Moses 7:53.
Family Study: Christmas traditions can point to Jesus Christ.
Passover helped the Israelites focus on Jesus Christ and His mission. Exodus 12
What Christmas traditions do you have in your own home the help you focus on the Savior?
What gifts can you give to Jesus today and all throughout the year?
Talents, prayer, repentance, kindness, service, helping siblings, writing notes, drawing pictures, cleaning your room.
Video: The Christ Child?
The Christmas Story: Matthew 1:18–25; 2:1–12; Luke 1:26–38; 2:1–20 (I will read all of these selections soon, as we are starting the New Testament.
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